Media on Elections and Violence 2016

National Media Coverage

Scope and Time Frame

Monitoring the national media’s coverage on election-related violence began on January 10 until May 16, a week after the elections. The media organizations covered were print, TV, and select online news websites based in NCR (see sources on Page 8).

Evaluation of Media Coverage

While local affiliates have made it possible for the national media to cover incidents all over the country, the kind of reporting produced does not always delve into the realities in provinces during elections. Election-related violence have been reported as crime stories which contain the elements of who, what, when, where and how, but rarely does the story include they “why.”

Observations in national media’s coverage:

• Lacking context (no background on political climate in area)
• Straight news reporting (reliance on blotter type)
• Depending on available sources, no investigations
• Depending on PNP pronouncements to be considered as ERI
• Reporting regional incidents in national media does not often reflect the underlying issues (warring political dynasties, problems with private armed groups)

The national community may fail to realize “unequal” quality of the conduct of elections and the level of threat that reigns through the campaign even in the not so remote areas of the country. The orderliness that comes with the automated voting does not prevent the attacks and threats conducted throughout the campaign and sometimes even spilling still into election week.

The mis-impression that we now have free and fair elections which are safe for voters and candidates or their supporters would lead to complacency.  This would not urge further work on improving the system of elections to make these more inclusive as well as to address the larger questions about conflict and violence.

This study suggests that the gun-culture permeates Philippine political culture, especially at the local level. The belief, demonstrated painfully in the overwhelming incidence of ERVs in 2016, asserts that even political power can be impotent without violence.

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